News

Summer Update from NBF President, Jeff Lynn

Jul 07, 2017

As we approach the Foundation's 23rd year, I am proud to lead our organization in addressing national issues that affect us all -- cleaner air, greater economic development in rural communities, and enhanced national security through energy independence. A few years ago, we began working on sustainability projects. This year, we celebrate partnering internationally! With a grant from the European Biodiesel Board, our research funding has increased allowing us to compare the GTAP-BIO model with European modeling methods. Study results will be used to better inform policy decision makers and the public. In this newsletter, you can also read about our successful education projects and other research efforts which depend on your ongoing support. And, once you have, please consider donating to the Foundation. -- Jeff Lynn, President

International Collaboration
The Foundation received funds from the European Biodiesel Board (EBB) to evaluate and compare GTAP-BIO and the European GLOBIOM models. This international collaboration will serve to spread what we have learned about Indirect Land Use Change (ILUC) modeling to the European continent and better inform their policy decisions. The project examines why GLOBIUM produces drastically different results than the more transparent and publicly reviewed models used elsewhere in the world. These models guide public policy. The GTAP-BIO model was developed by Purdue University and used by the California Air Resources Board to quantify ILUC resulting from US biofuel policy. US policy has included ILUC since implementation of the Renewable Fuel Standard and the California Low Carbon Fuel Standard in 2009. NBF has successfully united US biofuel and commodity groups with researchers to improve the quantification of ILUC. Calfornia and US regulators now confirm the environmental benefit of biofuels even with penalties for ILUC. This effort will address reduced policy support recently proposed by the European Commission for biodiesel from vegetable oils after 2020. Currently, the GLOBIUM model used in Europe predicts much larger ILUC emissions and makes claims that biodiesel is worse than petroleum diesel.